Catfish are best caught with prepared baits or cut bait. Good prepared baits include chicken livers and commercial stink baits. Cut bait, such as chunks of suckers, are also good, as are live suckers if legal. I've never heard of cats taking artificials.
Rig your bait on a large single or treble hook. 12 to 24" above it, tie on a bank sinker, heavy (4 oz or so) for strong currents, lighter for weak currents. Cast it and let it sit. Cast gently, especially if using monofilament line, as that kind of weight will snap off and fly across the river. As your bait drifts before the sinker digs in, it may feel like something's tugging. That is just the sinker drifting over obstacles. When a big cat takes your bait, you'll know it.
Look for spots where a river washes up against a bank, causing a deep hole. Fish over logs and rock piles, and in the backwaters at the sides, below a dam. Anyplace the water swirls or is slow, try there. Behind the pilings of bridges is a good spot to try as well.
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